Donny van de Beek went down immediately in his first official match for Manchester United on Saturday. The midfielder, who fell for Paul Pogba in the 67th minute, made the only goal in the home game against Crystal Palace: 1-3. A quarter of an hour after his entry Van de Beek got the ball through a defender in front of his feet, after which the midfielder, who came over from Ajax, hit the ball in a controlled fashion. Almost no one spoke of the Dutch National’s hit at Old Trafford afterwards.

It hurt former footballer Gary Neville’s eyes to see ‘his’ Manchester United start the new season in the Premier League in such a way. “You can talk about the arrival of, for example, Jadon Sancho for months to come, but if you don’t get a center defender who has speed and can defend one-on-one, you’re never going to win the title in the Premier League,” stressed the analyst of Sky Sports afterwards. Neville questioned Director Ed Woodward’s technical policy. “Why hasn’t he captured more players?”

The Manchester Evening News distributes Van de Beek a seven for his first official operations in the uniform of the Mancunians. “He made the 1-2. He should have been in the basics,” the newspaper’s brief commentary reads, scattering with unsatisfactory results. Of all the basic forces, only David de Gea gets a pass, a six. Victor Lindelöf got a two, mainly because he was involved in all hits. Scott McTominay got a five: “He was preferred to Van de Beek. McTominay used his common sense in the match, although it had little effect. At least he looks fit.” And about Paul Pogba, who got a four: “He wasn’t quite fit and often handed in the ball. No surprise he had to make way for Van de Beek after an hour.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got a three for his choices in the game. “He clearly made wrong choices. He saw that for himself when he pulled Daniel James to the side at halftime. His substitutions had a positive effect, but the damage was already done”, journalist Samuel Luckhurst said. “Crystal Palace deserved the victory”, Solskjaer himself said afterwards. “We were short and they were sharper in the duels for the ball. We played slowly in the opening phase and that had a knock-on effect on the rest of the game when Crystal Palace scored the first goal. Last season was long and didn’t end until August 16. We didn’t have enough time in the preparation to be sharper. We have worked hard with those who were there, but there have also been footballers who had international obligations”.

“We’re already behind the times, that’s a shame. We will show improvement soon, hopefully sooner than we have seen today. This was an unusual achievement, these players can do much better. And they know it.” Solskjaer doesn’t know if Manchester United is going to strengthen itself. “We always try to have as strong a selection as possible. If there’s a possibility at the right price, that’s an option. We always want to be stronger. But we can look in the mirror after today.” Hardly any questions were asked about Van de Beek’s performance. “Donny gave us a little hope. He’s smart, sees where the space is and feels exactly where he has to stand in the penalty area”, the Norwegian responded to a question about the Dutchman.

In 1995, Manchester United lost its first league game for the last time with a margin of two or more. In 1992, it happened for the last time on its own field. Both times Manchester United captured the title later that season. Oliver Holt, chief soccer player of the Mail on Sundaysee that this football year doesn’t happen. “The operations of Van de Beek, the only purchase so far, prove that Manchester United needs more reinforcements, especially in the back. We already knew in advance that Manchester United is not good enough to go for the championship, but without reinforcements they won’t even finish in the top four”.